A two-day meeting of foreign and trade ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum opened on October 4 in Bali, Indonesia, where they are expected to adopt a statement towards the goals of sustainable growth and closer connectivity.

>> Vietnam to work for success of APEC 21 A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu attended the meeting, which is as part of the 21st Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit and related meetings in Bali from October 1 to 8.

At the meeting, APEC ministers will discuss proposals reached at the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting on October 1-2 and contents of a working agenda for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on October 7-8, especially those related to Bogor goals and the ninth meeting of the World Trade Organization ministerial conference slated for this December in Bali.

They will also consider the APEC’s program on sustainable growth and fairness covering  promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises, food and energy security, economic empowerment to women, health care, maritime, technology innovations, rural development and poverty reduction.

Also high on the meeting’s agenda is the establishment of a regional anti-corruption working group as well as issues related to the Asia-Pacific connectivity scheme, infrastructure development, post-disaster resilience, trans-border education and tourism cooperation.

Bogor goals, which were adopted in 1994, look to achieve a free trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region by 2010 for industrialized economies and by 2020 for developing economies.

Established in 1989, APEC includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan (China), Thailand, the US and Vietnam.

APEC is now largest regional investor in Vietnam, accounting for 65 percent of its total foreign investment, 60 percent of export turnover, 80 percent of import value and 75 percent of total international tourists to the country.